Mommsen questions choice of format

Scotland's stand-in captain Preston Mommsen questioned the value of his side's clash with Australia A being a four-day game after they were handed a mammoth 360-run defeat in at the Grange in Edinburgh.

In a rare first-class outing for the Scots, they managed to score just 149 and 93 in their two innings against the Aussies' second string. That the match lasted barely two-and-a-half days highlighted the gulf in class between the sides and Mommsen claimed it might have been more beneficial had the game been played under a limited-overs format.

He said: "Individually we just weren't good enough. It's a blow. It's been a good experience playing against such quality players. It was a good measure to see where we are in comparison to the best teams in the world. It's quite clear we are not at the same level they are at."

Mommsen added: "One thing we can't hide away from is the fact we don't play a lot of red-ball cricket. We play a lot of one-day stuff and T20s with a white ball. It's a very different game when the ball is swinging and nipping about. Your batting skills have to be up to scratch.

"Is there any value for us then in playing a four-day game? That's a good question. When we are playing a big team like this you might ask why aren't we playing them in a one-dayer?"

The Aussies included four players in their line-up who can expect to see action in this summer's Ashes series in England, with wicket-keeper Brad Haddin joining bowlers Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon and all-rounder Steve Smith in the capital.

Their Test-level skills were evident as the tourists added to their first innings total of 372 for eight declared with another large tally, declaring for a second time on 230 for five. They resumed on Sunday morning on 164 for four with a massive 387-run lead following another dominant display against the Scots on Saturday.

Australia started by pushing their advantage on past 450 within little more than an hour of play commencing before deciding that was a large enough lead and handing the crease over to their hosts.

But another meek batting display followed, with only Calum MacLeod (30) notching up a respectable knock. That was largely down to some vicious bowling from the likes of James Pattinson, who claimed seven scalps in total for just 37 runs during the two Scotland innings.

But despite their huge winning margin, the Victoria right-arm seamer insists the test presented by Scotland was a useful exercise ahead of their five-match duel with the English. Pattinson - who has not given up hope of winning a place in the Ashes squad himself - said: "It's better to play than not to. It was still a good challenge. It doesn't matter who you play, you still have to come 100 per cent at them."